Destiny Kills

from a great height.”

“It’ll take longer to swim.”

I knew that. And a sea dragon going through the Panama Canal—the only shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans—would be more than a little noticeable, so that was out, too.

“It’s still a better option.”

“You really think I’d drop you?” He looked offended that I’d even think that.

I grinned. “It’s more a matter of not wanting to tire you out before that ‘right moment’ gets here.”

“Ah, well, I guess I’ll have to accept that excuse, won’t I?” He glanced at me, and there was concern mixed with the amusement in his bright eyes. “Why don’t you catch some sleep? You’ve had a rough few days, and it’ll be at least an hour before we get to Florence.”

“I doubt that I’ll be able to.”

“Try.”

I tried. And surprisingly, I did.

The car door slamming closed woke me some time later. I stretched like a cat, then peered through the windshield. Trae had said he was getting a cheap motel, but the one sitting in front of us, with its white painted walls and slate gray roof, was surprisingly pretty. Especially with all the potted red and yellow flowers near each of the rooms. There weren’t many cars around, but given the chill that suggested winter was coming around fast, that wasn’t really surprising.

I glanced around as Trae came back, simply enjoying watching him walk. God, the confident—even arrogant—way that man moved was decidedly sexy.

He climbed into the car and tossed me a set of keys. “Room three,” he said, as he started the car.

“Are we staying here the whole night?”

“We got rid of the bug, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Unless, as he’d suggested, they had another means of tracking me. But if that were the case, then we wouldn’t be safe anywhere.

And I guess the only way we were going to find out one way or the other was to stop, giving them time to regroup and find us again. If they did, then we’d know.

He drove across the courtyard to a parking spot in front of one of the rooms. The headlights illuminated the large golden number sitting in the middle of the white painted door. We were close to the office and the entrance, meaning the headlights of any cars that drove in would shine directly through the window into our room. A good warning system, if we needed one.

He climbed out of the car, then walked around and opened my door. I couldn’t help grinning as I climbed out. “The thief is being a gentleman.”

He slid his hand under my elbow and guided me to the door. “Don’t mock it, or it won’t happen again.”

“Oh, I’m not mocking. Just surprised you’d bother.”

“Maybe I’m still worried about you.” He opened the door and ushered me through, then tossed the keys on the flowery spread covering the queen bed. “You want to make some coffee while I get the gear out of the car?”

I nodded and hunted around until I found the coffeemaker, and then the coffee. As it began to burble and spurt, Trae dumped the last of the bags and his laptop on the chair near the bed, then said, “I think I’ll get rid of this car and get a new one. That scientist you knocked out could remember the plate number. And the original owners would probably have noticed it missing by now.”

“Most people would notice the car is not where they parked it the night before,” I agreed dryly.

“It makes the life of a thief more hazardous, I tell you. And cops tend to get antsy when they discover you’re driving a stolen car.”

“Well, maybe that’s because it is against the law.”

“And yet it’s practically a national pastime.”

“Doesn’t make it right, my friend.”

“Depends on your definition of right, doesn’t it?” Amusement played about his mouth. “I should be back before dawn. You stay here and get some more rest.”

“You really have a thing about me being rested, don’t you?”

His sudden grin made my pulse jump about like a crazy thing. “Maybe I have an ulterior motive.”

“Oh, of that I have no doubt,” I said dryly. “The thief always has a plan, doesn’t he?”

“You can bet your life on it, sweetheart.” He glanced at his watch, then added, “Don’t unlock the door for anyone.”

“Except you.”

“I’ll have the key.”

“Oh. Okay.”

His gaze skimmed my body, then he muttered something and spun on his heel, walking out the door.

Leaving me smiling. The thief definitely wanted me as much as I wanted him.

God, was it only yesterday I was telling myself I had to show a little restraint to honor Egan’s memory?

It seemed restraint and me weren’t exactly on speaking terms right now. I closed my eyes and tried to picture Egan in my mind. But his image was blurred—like a photo in which the subject had moved.

And the image that remained looked an awful lot like Trae.

Egan, I’m sorry I’m not stronger. I’m sorry I can’t honor you as much as I had hoped.

He’d understand. I knew that. We were both sensual beings, but our lovemaking had always been a matter of need rather than desire. And at least now I understood why he had always seemed distant. His soul mate was dead, killed by his own father, and his heart had been shattered in the process.

Mine, however, had not.

And I wanted what he’d had so very briefly. Wanted what my parents had, even now, after all the years of being apart. And I knew, deep down, that it was here for the taking. If I was brave enough. Or maybe that should be if I was foolish enough. After all, my life right now wasn’t exactly sane.

I poured myself a coffee. After taking a sip, I grabbed a microwave meal from the bags, zapped it in the small microwave that was really the only cooking facility provided beyond the coffeemaker and small toaster, then sat down on the bed to watch TV.

An hour later, bored with the TV and growing tired of waiting for Trae, I stripped the covers back and climbed into bed. I was asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

When I woke, it was to the warmth of the sun streaming across my face and the heat of flesh pressed against my spine. His arm was slung casually over my hip, his fingertips lightly resting on my stomach. He wasn’t moving, and his breathing was soft, even. Asleep, even as I was suddenly, gloriously, awake.

I didn’t move, and as tempting as it was to press back against him, to stir him to life as I was stirring to life, I didn’t. Even a thief needed his sleep, and I had no idea how long he’d been out last night.

So I lay there, wrapped in the spicy, tangy scent of him, listening to him breathe and feeling the warm wash of his breath across one shoulder. My skin tingled, my body ached like crazy, and every little movement he made had shivers of delight flashing across my nerve endings.

Naturally, he slept for what seemed like forever.

In reality, it was probably only another hour or so. Certainly the light streaming into the room hadn’t journeyed very far up the wall as the sun began its daily track through the sky.

His waking was done in several brief, delicious moments that were filled with a combination of growing awareness and desire. The twitch of fingertips across my stomach. His growing erection, pressing ever more forcefully against my butt. The quickening of breath across my shoulder. The butterfly kiss of lips on the base of my neck.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he murmured, and hugged me closer, until his erection was snuggled firmly against my butt cheeks. “What a lovely way to wake up.”

And it’d be even more lovely if he actually got down to business. Good grief, couldn’t he sense I was just about bursting with wanting him?

I reached backward, lightly running a hand up and down his hip. “What time did you get in last night?”